Author Topic: 1975 400/4 project  (Read 11372 times)

Offline Sprocket

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #90 on: August 05, 2019, 08:12:56 AM »
Seems like another lifetime ago this was in one piece. Happy (!) to report it is possible to get an engine in with just one person. Laid the engine on a mat, propped it up at a bit of an angle and then laid the bike over the top of it. Bit of shoving and humping around and then lifted the both of them together.

At that point I realised the good old powder coating issue. Rear bottom engine mounts are so tight, they won't accept the engine with the powder coat on. So, while on the main stand, with the front lowers in I jacked the engine up and chiseled the coat off around the insides. Slather with grease and try again - job is a very goodun'.


Offline Nurse Julie

  • 1977 CB550/4 Mongrel Brat. 1974 UK 500/4 K1. Honda CD250u.
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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #91 on: August 05, 2019, 08:38:50 AM »
Great progress.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #92 on: August 05, 2019, 11:02:58 AM »
Well done, getting the engine back in the frame is a milestone moment.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline Sprocket

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #93 on: August 07, 2019, 12:18:15 PM »
Small amount of progress, but momentum is building now...

Chain on. Adjusted the rear wheel. Chain guard on. Sprocket cover on. Gear lever on. Now can confirm the electrics seem to work, in that I have oil pressure and neutral lights. Horn was refurbed but now refuses to work. Most likely because of my awful attempt at re-crimping it. Think I'll have to admit defeat and buy a new one :(

Tank is currently outside as it's dripping occasionally. I had 2 tanks and took the best looking petcock and put in the better tank after cleaning with Phosphoric acid. I opened up the other petcock and can see some O rings that are probably the culprits of the leaks. Will see if I can get replacements.

Spent a while puzzling over the breather tube. There's a long pipe that goes from the collector under the air filter up to the top of the cam cover, but I can't work out how the air plenum connects to it, should there be a tee piece?

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #94 on: August 07, 2019, 12:29:03 PM »
There should be a white plastic attachment on the bottom of the air filter box with outlet spouts. The one that comes out horizontal takes the pipe to the breather on top of cam cover, the other vertical spout takes a pipe to atmosphere.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Sprocket

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #95 on: August 07, 2019, 12:33:10 PM »
Cheers Julie! So the connection from the plenum goes somewhere else?

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #96 on: August 07, 2019, 12:34:24 PM »
Cheers Julie! So the connection from the plenum goes somewhere else?
Yes, it goes to atmosphere also, it's just a drain tube.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline 10tenmen

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #97 on: August 16, 2019, 07:45:23 PM »
There should be a white plastic attachment on the bottom of the air filter box with outlet spouts. The one that comes out horizontal takes the pipe to the breather on top of cam cover, the other vertical spout takes a pipe to atmosphere.
Lol just joined Julie and you have helped me solve a problem with the hose from the cam cover due to it not being attached.  Thanks Gary

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #98 on: August 16, 2019, 09:06:42 PM »
There should be a white plastic attachment on the bottom of the air filter box with outlet spouts. The one that comes out horizontal takes the pipe to the breather on top of cam cover, the other vertical spout takes a pipe to atmosphere.
Lol just joined Julie and you have helped me solve a problem with the hose from the cam cover due to it not being attached.  Thanks Gary
Haha, you will find that most of the queries you have Gary will have been queried by more than one of us in the past.........This is an excellent forum for asking questions and getting answers.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline mattsz

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #99 on: August 16, 2019, 11:31:15 PM »
Welcome Gary!

Haha, you will find that most of the queries you have Gary will have been queried by more than one of us in the past.........This is an excellent forum for asking questions and getting answers.

Very true - in addition, you will (almost) never simply be told to do a search for an answer... this is a top-notch community!

Offline Sprocket

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #100 on: August 19, 2019, 09:02:18 AM »
Finished putting attaching most of the important pieces on Saturday
[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Sunday morning I decided to actually try to start it.

Would you believe it was on the first prod of the starter?

No, me neither. In fact though - I think I can claim this... When you set the fuel tap to 'On' instead of 'Res' and you only have about a litre of fuel in it, then realise, and set it correctly ... THIS happens:

https://youtu.be/vglFIYK9DAI

I let it warm up for a minute or so, playing with the throttle and watching all manner of smoke appear from various places, but the engine was firing on 4 and seemed pretty dang smooth!

I took it up the road for a quick ride, got into 3rd and noted a bit of clutch slip, so gingerly brought it back. Could be because I cleaned the plates, or they could be at the end of their limit - they were thin but still had some life left, will try again at some point and report back.

Next job is to start at the front of the bike and work back, checking torque of every fastener and giving it a dob of paint.

Then I'll flat the side panels, stick the stickers on and lacquer - then we'll consider this job done! ;D

Offline Sprocket

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #101 on: September 02, 2019, 11:44:36 AM »
Well, I think this project has reached a significant milestone, in that I've been carried 85 miles under it's own power now!

I had the clutch out on Saturday to look at why it was slipping about 5k, seems the basket fingers were pretty well scalloped so I filed them flat and cross hatched the steel clutch plates. Fresh oil back in, and it's like night and day, proper strong clutch action.

Further running in about 50 miles tootling round taking the revs up to about 5-6k, mixture of hard work and varied speeds - all seems good so far!

Had a long chat with a farmer coming out of his gate who stopped and told me it was a really nice job. That perked me up a bit too, cos I think it looks a bit rough!

Offline taysidedragon

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #102 on: September 02, 2019, 11:49:55 AM »
Looking good. 👍
Gareth

1977 CB400F
1965 T100SS

Offline Greg65

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #103 on: September 02, 2019, 12:27:23 PM »
When we are close up and personal with our projects, we often get engrossed in our current problem and the next one on the horizon. I certainly forgot to stand back and look at what I had achieved. You need someone to remind you. Well done.

Greg
Keep smiling it makes the management nervous.
Honda CB400 1976
Suzuki GS1000 1978

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: 1975 400/4 project
« Reply #104 on: September 02, 2019, 03:29:48 PM »
Lovely job👍. You think it's a bit rough 😮!
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

 

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